Eighteen Ponds

Pools flank the Yongding River 50 km from downtown. Valleys, rocks, ponds and plants make a perfect setting for an outdoor barbecue. Wooden trestles zigzag in and out of the mountains.

The site is about 50 km from Beijing. Maple leaves blaze red in late autumn.

7:30 am-6:30 pm, daily. Anjiazhuang village, Mentougou district. 010-6183-3199.

Yinshan Tower Forest

Yinshan Tower Forest's rolling slopes are perfect for a stroll. A flatland halfway along the route is studded with towers built in the Liao (916-1125) and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties said to contain parts of Buddhas' body.

8 am-6 pm, daily. Humen village, Changping district. 010-8972-6426.

Dongxiaokou Forest Park

Dongxiaokou Forest Park allows pets and has long been a meeting point for neighborhood dog owners. The forest is wild rather than landscaped, and there are few man-made features. There is a lake where pets can swim, and clean water for pets is provided.

8 am-6 pm, daily. Lijun Lu, Dongxiaokou county, Changping district.

Baihujian Forest Park

This is the place to see maple trees burn red in autumn without the crowds that clog the Fragrant Hills' paths. The mountain takes its name from its anthropomorphic resemblance to a tiger and abundant streams.

The area is said to host 1,000 peaks. The main uphill trek slopes gently but pet owners will need to carry their creatures down a long ladder that leads down from the mountaintop.

The park is part of a larger scenic area called Beijing Houhuayuan, or Beijing's Backyard Garden, beset with vast ponds, ancient temples and unusual stones.

7 am-5 pm, daily. Houbaihujian village, Yangfang county, Changping district. 010-6070-7588.

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